Drainless reverse osmosis water purification system

ABSTRACT

A drainless reverse osmosis (RO) water purification system provides relatively pure water for on-demand dispensing, while recycling brine to a domestic hot water system. The drainless purification system includes a pre-filter catalyst cartridge for removing chlorine-based contaminants from a tap water supply upstream from an RO membrane. The catalyst is regularly refreshed by a high through-flow of water to a conventional cold water dispense faucet, thereby significantly prolonging the service life of the RO membrane. The RO membrane is incorporated into a multi-cartridge unit adapted for facilitated slide-out removal and replacement as needed. A control valve recycles brine from the RO membrane to the hot water system during pure water production, and recirculates tap water through the RO membrane when a pure water reservoir is substantially filled. The multi-cartridge unit may further include an air filtration system for providing a flow of filtered air.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS DATA

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/179,108 filed on Jun. 10, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/663,396 filed on Oct. 29, 2012, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,371,245, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/795,342 filed on Jun. 7, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No.8,298,420, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/870,316 filed on Oct. 10, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,837,866, whichclaims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/829,178filed on Oct. 12, 2006 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.60/951,265 filed on Jul. 23, 2007, all of which are incorporated byreference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to improvements in water purificationsystems of the type having a reverse osmosis (RO) unit or the like forremoving dissolved ionic material and other contaminants from anordinary supply of tap water or the like. More particularly, thisinvention relates to an improved water purification system having areverse osmosis unit adapted for providing a supply of relativelypurified water over a significantly extended operating life, and whereinwater waste during normal system operation is substantially eliminated.

Water purification systems in general are well-known in the art of thetype having a reverse osmosis (RO) unit or membrane for converting anincoming supply of ordinary tap or feed water into relatively purifiedwater for use in cooking, drinking, etc. In general terms, the reverseosmosis unit comprises a semi-permeable RO membrane through which aportion of the tap water supply is passed, such that the membrane actsessentially as a filter to remove dissolved metallic ions and the likeas well as other contaminants and undesired particulate matter from thetap water. In normal operation, these impurities are removed from oneportion of the water flow and concentrated in another portion of thewater flow, commonly referred to as retentate or brine, which isnormally discharged as waste to a drain. The thus-produced flow ofrelatively purified water is available for immediate dispensing for use,and/or for temporary storage within a suitable reservoir or vesselawaiting dispensing for use. A pure water dispense faucet mountedtypically on or adjacent to a kitchen-type sink or the like is manuallyoperable to dispense the produced purified water. While the specificconstruction and operation of such RO water purification systems mayvary, such systems are exemplified by those shown and described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 4,585,554; 4,595,497; 4,657,674; and 5,045,197.

One disadvantage associated with reverse osmosis purification systemsrelates to the fact that retentate or brine outflow from the RO membraneis normally discarded as waste. In a typical RO system operating understandard domestic water supply pressures, the ratio of brine outflow toproduced purified water outflow can be on the order of about 4:1.Accordingly, the discarded brine flow is sometimes perceived as arelatively substantial waste of water which can be significant in areaswherein the water supply is limited. As a result, many residential andcommercial water customers have favored use of bottled water as apurified water source, despite the costs and inconveniences associatedwith delivery, storage and changeover of large (typically 5 gallon)water bottles with respect to a bottled water cooler.

Another disadvantage associated with reverse osmosis systems relates tothe typically limited service life of the RO membrane and otherpre-filter and post-filter elements typically associated therewith. Morespecifically, many RO systems use a pre-filter element typicallyincluding a carbon-based filtration media for removing some contaminantsfrom a tap water inflow at a location upstream from the RO membrane. Oneimportant function of this pre-filter element is to remove contaminantsthat would otherwise shorten the operating service life of the ROmembrane. A downstream-located post-filter element is also commonlyprovided for additional water filtration and purification beforedispensing. This array of pre- and post-filter elements, in combinationwith the RO membrane, is often provided in the form of individualcartridges designed for facilitated disassembly from and re-assemblywith a unitary-type manifold. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,197.Despite the fact that cartridge replacement may be required only onceeach year, and despite efforts to make cartridge changeover anintuitively simple process, many customers are reluctant to handle thistask. Instead, replacement of the various RO system cartridges haslargely remained the responsibility of a water service company, therebyentailing regular and relatively costly service calls to each customer'sresidence or place of business. The requirement for regular servicecalls dramatically increases the overall operating cost of the ROsystem, thereby reducing or eliminating apparent advantages relative toconventional bottled water coolers and related bottle delivery systems.

There exists, therefore, a significant need for further improvements inand to reverse osmosis water purification systems, wherein water wasteis substantially eliminated, and further wherein the service life of areverse osmosis (RO) membrane is significantly extended for at least aperiod of several years without requiring attention by servicepersonnel. The present invention fulfills these needs and providedfurther related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, an improved drainless reverse osmosis(RO) water purification system is provided to produce relatively purewater for on-demand dispensing, while recycling retentate or brine in amanner which substantially eliminates water waste. The improved ROsystem further includes a catalyst pre-filter for treating a tap watersupply to remove contaminants, particularly such as chlorine-basedcontaminants, prior to or upstream from a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane,thereby significantly extending the service life of the RO membrane, andwherein this catalyst pre-filter is regularly refreshed or renewed toprovide a compatible extended service life. In addition, the RO membraneis incorporated into a multi-cartridge unit including an additionalpre-membrane filter element and a post-membrane filter element, whereinthis multi-cartridge unit is adapted for quick and easy slide-outremoval and slide-fit installation of a replacement unit, when and ifrequired. Moreover, the RO system may further include a source offiltered, relatively purified air.

In the preferred form, the catalyst pre-filter is coupled to aconventional and typically cold tap water supply source. The catalystpre-filter carries a supply of a catalyst in particulate form, such as acopper-zinc media. During normal operation of the RO system to producerelatively purified water, a relatively slow tap water flow proceedsupwardly through the catalyst particulate, at a rate and pressureinsufficient to disturb the catalyst bed, resulting in catalyzation ofchlorine-based contaminants such as chlorine and chloramines to otherforms not harmful to the RO membrane, as well as retention ofparticulate contaminants. The catalyst pre-filter is also coupledin-line between the tap water supply source and a conventional tap watercold dispense faucet. Each time the cold dispense faucet is turned on ata typical, relatively high flow rate, the tap water upflow through thecatalyst particulate functions to lift and stir the particulate from thesettled bed to a substantially fluidized and turbulently intermixingstate. As the particulate turbulently intermixes, the catalyst particlesabrade for removal of surface oxidation and are thus renewed orrefreshed. The catalyst particulate is retained within the catalystpre-filter, whereas the removed oxidation and any entrapped particulatecontaminants are flushed with the water flow to and through the coldwater dispense faucet.

During pure water production, the catalyst pre-filter discharges afiltered tap water outflow to the multi-cartridge unit, for series flowto the pre-membrane filter element, the RO membrane, and thepost-membrane filter element. The pre- and post-membrane filter elementsmay include a carbon-based filtration media. The RO membrane separatesthe water flow into a relative purified water outflow havingcontaminants substantially removed therefrom, and a retentate or brineoutflow having the contaminants substantially concentrated therein. Inaccordance with one aspect of the invention, the brine outflow is notdischarged as waste to a drain, but is instead pumped to a hot watercircuit forming a portion of a domestic water supply system. As such,the brine outflow is recycled in a manner whereby recirculation thereofto the RO membrane is substantially eliminated.

The produced purified water is available for immediate dispensing as bymeans of a pure water dispense faucet. Alternately, the producedpurified water is directed to and stored within a pure water reservoirawaiting dispensing via the pure water dispense faucet. In the preferredform, water flowing to the pure water dispense faucet may be furthersubjected to a final catalyst filter having a particulate mediaincluding zinc to enhance water freshness and sanitation.

A control valve monitors the volume of water contained within the purewater reservoir, and functions to disconnect the brine outflow from thehot water system when the pure water reservoir reaches a substantiallyfilled condition and pure water production ceases. In this mode, the tapwater inflow to the RO membrane flows untreated to the brine outflowside and is continuously recirculated by the control valve between thecatalyst pre-filter and the RO membrane. Upon resumed pure waterproduction, the control valve re-directs the brine port outflow to thehot water system. In one preferred form, the control valve comprises apressure-responsive valve assembly for shifting the water outflow fromthe RO membrane brine port in response to water pressure within the purewater storage reservoir.

The multi-cartridge unit including the RO membrane and the pre-andpost-membrane filter elements is provided as a unitary device adaptedfor quick and easy removal from and replacement within a manifoldhousing, in a unidirectional or one-way installation with the cartridgesproperly connected to system plumbing lines. In the preferred form, themulti-cartridge unit is adapted for one-way drop-in mounting into ahousing drawer adapted for slide-out displacement for access to andremoval of the cartridge unit. A replacement multi-cartridge unit isdrop-fit installed into the housing drawer which is then slidablyadvanced into the manifold housing in proper coupled relation with thesystem plumbing lines.

The manifold housing may additionally include an air filtration systemincluding a removably mounted air filter and a fan for drawing air overthe air filter for purification. Filtered air is coupled from themanifold housing to the pure water dispense faucet to provide relativelypurified air in the same room within which the purified water isavailable.

The RO system may further include a conductivity monitor system of thegeneral type including water-contacting electrodes and indicator meanssuch as one or more indicator lights on the pure water dispense faucetfor indicating a need to replace the RO membrane. In the preferred form,the indicator lights are adapted to provide a first color (such as greenor blue) when the pure water faucet is open and the RO membrane isfunctioning properly, and a second color (such as yellow or red) toindicate a need for RO membrane replacement. In the preferred form, themonitor system will illuminate the second color continuously, as bycontinuous lighting or continuous blinking of the second color until theRO membrane is replaced. In an alternate preferred form, the monitorsystem is programmed for illuminating the first and second colors in analternating blinking sequence until the RO membrane is replaced. Thepure water dispense faucet may further incorporate a photocell fordetecting ambient light intensity, and for operating one or more of theindicator lights in a night-light limited illumination mode.

Upon replacement of the multi-cartridge unit, to replace the ROmembrane, the monitor system is re-set. In a preferred form, suchresetting occurs by providing each multi-cartridge unit with a uniquecode carried thereby, such as a unique bar code printed on a label onthe multi-cartridge unit at a predetermined location. A reader mountedon or within the manifold housing is responsive to the unique code onthe multi-cartridge unit, for resetting the conductivity monitor system.That is, removal of a multi-cartridge unit followed by re-installationof the same unit will not re-set the monitor system. But installation ofa different multi-cartridge unit having a different unique code thereonwill re-set the monitor system.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principals of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a drainless reverse osmosiswater purification system embodying the novel features of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a catalyst pre-filtercartridge for use in the invention, and depicting a particulate catalystin a normal settled bed orientation for pure water production;

FIG. 2a is a vertical sectional view of the catalyst pre-filtercartridge, similar to FIG. 2, but showing the particulate catalyst in aturbulently agitated flush-flow mode for catalyst renewal;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing an exemplary manifoldhousing for use in the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the manifold housing of FIG.3, with a housing cover removed to illustrate internally mountedcomponents, and with a slidably retractable drawer carrying a removablymounted multi-cartridge unit including a reverse osmosis (RO) cartridge;

FIG. 5 is an alternative perspective view of the manifold housingsimilar to FIG. 4, with the housing cover removed and showing theslide-out drawer with multi-cartridge unit in a fully installedposition;

FIG. 6 is a further perspective view of the manifold housing similar toFIGS. 4 and 5, but illustrating the slide-out drawer in a retracted oropen state, and showing the removable multi-cartridge unit in explodedrelation therewith;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmented cross-sectional view taken generally onthe line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken generally on the line 8-8 ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a schematic flow diagram indicating water flow through themanifold housing including the multi-cartridge unit removably installedtherein;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing internal detailsof a control valve mounted within the manifold housing, wherein theillustrative control valve conforms with one preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing a final catalystfilter cartridge mounted within the manifold housing;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional view depicting a pure waterdispense faucet for use in the invention;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the pure water dispensefaucet of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a front elevation view of the pure water dispense faucet ofFIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a schematic circuit diagram showing a conductivity monitorsystem and related control components;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing an alternativecontrol valve constructed in accordance with one alternative preferredembodiment of the invention, and showing the control valve in relationto a portion of the system plumbing circuit;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing a furtheralternative form of a control valve constructed in accordance with theinvention, and showing the modified control valve in relation to aportion of the plumbing system;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, in somewhat schematicform, depicting a reverse osmosis cartridge including means for addingone or more selected minerals to produced purified water, in accordancewith one alternative preferred form of the invention;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged exploded and fragmented perspective view showinga modified reverse osmosis membrane assembly for use in the modifiedreverse osmosis cartridge of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing, somewhat inschematic form, a further alternative control valve constructed inaccordance with one further alternative preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 21 is a fragmented perspective view similar to FIG. 3, butdepicting a modified manifold housing having an improved latch mechanismfor controlling movement of the cartridge-carrying retractable drawerbetween a secure normally closed position and an open position, with afront panel on the retractable drawer being depicted in a partially openposition;

FIG. 22 is a fragmented vertical sectional view taken generally on theline 22-22 of FIG. 21, but showing the retractable drawer in the securenormally closed position;

FIG. 23 is a fragmented vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 22, butillustrating the retractable drawer is the partially open position; and

FIG. 24 is an enlarged fragmented perspective view similar to FIG. 21,but with the drawer front panel removed for illustrating components ofthe improved latch mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the exemplary drawings, an improved reverse osmosis (RO)water purification system referred to generally in FIG. 1 by thereference numeral 10 includes a reverse osmosis (RO) cartridge 12 havinga reverse osmosis (RO) membrane therein for separating a tap waterinflow into relatively purified water 14 available for on-demanddispensing, and a so-called retentate or brine flow having contaminantsand impurities substantially concentrated therein. In accordance withthe invention, during pure water production, the brine flow is recycledto a hot water side or hot water circuit of a domestic water supplysystem to avoid water waste. In addition, tap water inflow to the ROcartridge is pretreated by flow through a catalyst pre-filter 16 tocatalyze chemical contaminants which would otherwise be harmful to theRO membrane, thereby significantly increasing the service life of the ROmembrane. A particulate catalyst 18 within the catalyst pre-filter 16 isperiodically refreshed to achieve extended service life compatible withthe extended service life of the RO membrane.

The illustrative reverse osmosis water purification system 10 isdesigned to provide a ready supply of substantially purified water 14for drinking and cooking purposes, etc. The system 10 is generallydesigned for residential or household use, or for use in a commercialfacility particularly such as an office or the like, installed typicallywithin the compact cabinet space located beneath a kitchen-type sink(not shown) or the like, with a pure water dispense faucet 20 normallymounted on a countertop 21 on or adjacent the sink for on-demand purewater dispensing. In this regard, the pure water dispense faucet 20 istypically installed alongside or in close proximity with a conventionalfaucet or faucet set 22 including cold and hot water faucet valves 24and 26 operable for respectively dispensing untreated cold water anduntreated hot water, or a tempered mixture thereof, through one or moredispense spouts 27.

A standard domestic water supply system includes a tap water supply 28coupled to a cold water circuit 30 to which the cold water faucet valve24 is also connected. The tap water supply 28 is additionally coupledthrough a water heater 32 to a hot water circuit 34 to which the hotwater faucet valve 26 is connected. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that the illustrative cold and hot water circuits 30, 34 willnormally incorporate multiple hot and cold water dispense sites, eachwith a corresponding dispense faucet set 22 or the like. In addition,persons skilled in the art will recognize that single-handle faucet setscan be used for dispensing cold water, hot water, or a tempered mixturethereof.

In general, the purification system 10 receives a tap water inflow bycoupling the catalyst pre-filter 16 into the domestic cold water circuit30. During normal operation, this cold tap water inflow passes throughthe catalyst pre-filter 16 at a relatively slow flow rate for treatment,and the thus-treated water is delivered to a multi-cartridge unit 36which includes the RO cartridge 12 having the RO membrane containedtherein. The RO membrane within the RO cartridge 12 separates the tapwater inflow into the produced relatively purified water 14 which isdelivered to a storage reservoir 38 where it is available for on-demanddispensing, and the retentate or brine flow which is normally recycledthrough a recycle conduit 40 to the hot water side of the domestic watersystem.

In this regard, persons skilled in the art will recognize and appreciatethat the purified water 14 has impurities substantially removedtherefrom, whereas these removed impurities are retained within andcarried off by the retentate or brine flow for recycling to the watersupply system, and in the preferred embodiment, to the hot water circuit34 of the water supply system. While the term brine is commonly used torefer to this retentate flow, persons skilled in the art will understandthat the level of impurities carried by this brine flow does not renderthe water toxic or harmful for a wide range of traditional domesticwater supply uses such as washing, bathing, etc. Indeed, when thisretentate or brine flow is intermixed with other water within the watersupply system, the proportional increase in overall impurities isvirtually unnoticeable.

In accordance with one primary aspect of the invention, the catalystpre-filter 16 includes the particulate catalyst 18 (FIG. 2) forpre-treating the tap water inflow in a manner to effectively catalyzechemical contaminants known to be harmful and thus known tosignificantly reduce the service life of the RO membrane within the ROcartridge 12. Such chemical contaminants commonly include chlorines andchloramines which are commonly present in domestic water supplies.Importantly, this particulate catalyst 18 is regularly refreshed orrenewed by a rapid flush-flow of the cold tap water supply through thecatalyst pre-filter 16 each time the cold water faucet valve 24 isturned on for a substantial cold water flow rate. Accordingly, theservice life of the particulate catalyst 18 is also significantlyextended for compatibility with extended service life of the ROmembrane, with a preferred service life for these components being onthe order of about 5-7 years.

FIG. 2 shows the catalyst pre-filter 16 is more detail. As shown, thecatalyst pre-filter 16 comprises an upright housing 42 which may have agenerally cylindrical cross sectional shape, to include a lowermulti-port fitting 44 defining a tap water inflow port 46 connected tothe cold water supply circuit 30. Cold tap water is thus available toflow through this inflow port 46 and upwardly through a lower inletfilter screen 48 of generally upwardly projecting conical geometry intoan internal pre-filter chamber 50. This pre-filter chamber 50 ispartially filled with the particulate catalyst 18, with FIG. 2 showingthis particulate catalyst in the form of a settled bed occupying up toabout ½ of the volume of the pre-filter chamber 50. This particulatecatalyst 18 comprises, in a preferred form, a metal-based particulateincluding copper and zinc components, with one preferred catalystmaterial being available from KDF Fluid Treatment, Inc., of Constantine,Mich., under product designation KDF-55. See also U.S. Pat. No.5,135,654, which is incorporated by reference herein.

During normal pure water production, with the cold water faucet valve 24in a normally closed position, the tap water inflow into the pre-filterchamber 50 proceeds upwardly as indicated by arrow 51 into and throughthe settled catalyst bed at a relatively slow flow rate which isinsufficient to disturb or disrupt the particulate catalyst 18 from theillustrative settled bed. As a result, the water-catalyst contact orresidence time is substantial, and sufficient for substantially thoroughcatalyzation of chemical contaminants as by oxidation reductionreaction. Particulate contaminants are also trapped within the catalystbed, and thereby removed from the water upflow therethrough. The treatedwater flow then proceeds upwardly through the open upper portion of thepre-filter chamber 50, and through an upper filter screen 52 into asmall head space 54 before turning downwardly for passage through aspiral-wrapped and/or pleated filter element 56 positioned annularlyabout the pre-filter chamber 50. A stainless steel mesh material mayalso be used for the filter element 56. The filter element 56 is adaptedto trap additional particulate contaminants, preferably to a size ofabout 5 microns, before coupling the water flow to a first lower wateroutflow port 58 formed as a portion of the lower multi-port fitting 44.From this outflow port 58, the pre-treated water is delivered to themulti-cartridge unit 36 including the RO cartridge 12 for pure waterproduction, as will be described in more detail. Persons skilled in theart will understand that the filter element 56 is optional, wherein thesize of the catalyst particles may be chosen to entrap and retainsmall-sized particulate contaminants.

The particulate catalyst 18 is especially effective in catalyzingchlorine-based chemical contaminants of the type commonly present inmany domestic water supply systems for sanitizing the water supply. Suchconstituents are harmful to a semi-permeable membrane of the type usedin the RO cartridge 12 for pure water production, typically resulting ina dramatically shortened membrane service life. By catalyzing thesechemical contaminants to a form that is not harmful to the RO cartridge12, the service life of the RO membrane dramatically increases. Suchcatalyzation is accompanied by an oxidation reduction reaction whichresults in an oxidation layer on the catalyst particles, wherein, overtime, this oxidation layer can obstruct or interfere with goodwater-catalyst contact. Accordingly, over a period of time, theeffectiveness of the particulate catalyst 18 can be significantlydiminished.

To avoid this reduction in catalyst effectiveness, the particulatecatalyst 18 is regularly renewed or refreshed by removing the oxidationsurface layer therefrom and flushing this removed oxidation and anytrapped particulate contaminants from the pre-filter 16. This isaccomplished by connecting the catalyst pre-filter 16 via a second lowerwater outflow port 60 to the cold water faucet valve 24 via the coldwater circuit 30. In this regard, normal installation of the waterpurification system 10 into the cabinet space underneath a sink havingthe faucet set 22 mounted thereon conveniently positions the pre-filter16 close to the faucet set for quick and easy flush-flow to renew thecatalyst 18. Accordingly, when the cold water faucet is turned onperiodically with a substantial flow rate, the upflow passage of tapwater through the pre-filter chamber 50 is dramatically increased and issufficient to lift and turbulently stir the particulate catalyst 18throughout the entire chamber volume, as viewed in FIG. 2a . As thisrapid flush-flow occurs through the pre-filter chamber 50, the catalystparticles tumble and abrade against one another in the form of aturbulent fluidized bed, thereby abrading off the formed oxidation layerthereon for flush-flow of this oxidation layer with the water past theupper filter screen 52 and further through the second outflow port 60 tothe cold water faucet 24. Importantly, as a result, the particulatecatalyst 18 is effectively renewed or refreshed for enhancedeffectiveness with an extended service life compatible with the extendedservice life of the RO membrane. In one preferred form, the filterelement 56 is omitted (as previously noted) to avoid clogging thereof byflushed oxidation and other entrapped contaminant particles. Uponclosing the cold water faucet valve 24, this rapid flush flow throughthe catalyst 18 ceases, and the slow pure water production flow resumesthereby allowing the catalyst particles to re-settle into the bedconfiguration shown in FIG. 2.

While the illustrative drawings show the conical filter screen 48 at thelower end of the pre-filter chamber 50, persons skilled in the art willappreciate that alternative water inflow geometries into contact withthe particulate catalyst 18 may be used. Such alternative water inflowconfigurations may include, but are not limited to, upwardly jettedarrangements conducive to substantially thorough fluidization of theparticulate catalyst 18 when the cold water faucet valve 24 is turnedon, and for substantially thorough water-particulate contact withoutfluidization during pure water production with the cold water faucetvalve 24 turned off

The multi-cartridge unit 36 including the RO cartridge 12 is removablyinstalled into a compact manifold housing 62, as shown best in FIGS.3-6. As shown in accordance with a preferred form, the multi-cartridgeunit 36 comprises a trio of cartridges including the RO cartridge 12having the RO membrane therein, in combination with a pre-membranefilter cartridge 64 and a post-membrane filter cartridge 66 (FIGS. 4-6).This trio of cartridges 12,64 and 66 are preassembled on a manifold base68 configured to define a predetermined sequential flow path for waterflow to and through these cartridges 12,64 and 66. The manifold base 68carries a ported end plate 70 for slide-fit connection with a pair ofcylindrical alignment pins 71 and a plurality of cylindrical waterconduit members 72 (FIGS. 4 and 6-7) protruding from a fixed manifold 74within the housing 62. A handle 75 conveniently interconnects the upperends of the three cartridges 12,64 and 66 for facilitated manualgrasping and manipulation of the multi-cartridge unit 36 for quick andeasy drop-fit installation into or lift-out removal from the housing 62.

In one preferred form, this handle 75 is constructed from a flexiblefabric material such as canvas belt of the like suitable for easy manualgrasping, but collapsible upon release to occupy minimal space withinthe manifold housing 62. Accordingly, the collapsible handle 75 permitsuse of cartridges 12, 64 and 66 of substantially maximum or optimizedheights, thereby further enhancing the service life of themulti-cartridge unit 36.

As shown best in FIGS. 4 and 6, the housing 62 includes an internal base76 having the fixed manifold 74 mounted generally at an inboard endthereof. An extensible slide unit 78 is mounted on this internal base 76for supporting a drawer 80 adapted for sliding movement between anadvanced or closed position within a manifold cover 81 (FIGS. 3 and 5)and an open or retracted position (FIGS. 4 and 6) with a portion of thedrawer 80 exposed at a front end of the manifold housing 62. Thismovable drawer 80 defines an upwardly open pocket 82 (FIG. 6) fordrop-in reception of the manifold base 68 of the multi-cartridge unit36. A front margin of the drawer 80 carries a closure panel 84 with adrawer pull 86 thereon for facilitated manual movement of the drawer 80between the open and closed positions. The drawer pocket 82 (FIG. 6) isdefined by irregular surfaces such as the illustrative triangularindents 88 formed at longitudinally off-center positions along thedrawer length, for mated reception into notches 90 formed in the sidesof the manifold base 68, thereby assuring unidirectional or one-waydrop-in reception of the multi-cartridge unit 36 into the drawer 80.

With the multi-cartridge unit 36 seated within the open drawer 80, asviewed in FIG. 4, the drawer 80 can be closed by simple slide-in actionto displace the ported manifold end plate 70 into fluid-coupled relationwith the plurality of water conduit members 72 on the fixed manifold 74.The guide pins 71 are designed to engage reciprocal bores (not numbered)in the end plate 70 to correctly align the slidable manifold base 68with the fixed manifold 74 such that engagement between the end plate 70and the water conduit members 72 automatically functions to provide thecorrect fluid flow paths for proper operation of the reverse osmosiswater purification system 10. Persons skilled in the art may recognizethat other alignment mechanisms may be used in place of or in additionto the guide pins 71. FIG. 7 illustrates construction details of oneexemplary and preferred coupling arrangement, wherein multiple ports 92formed in the end plate 70 each include a check valve 94 spring-loadedto a normally closed position to prevent water leakage therefrom. Eachof these check valves 94 is adapted for push-fit engagement and partialretraction by a probe 95 of the associated one of the water conduitmembers 72 which carries one or more seal rings 96 for slidably sealedengagement within the end plate port 92 prior to opening movement of theassociated check valve 94. Similarly, each of the water conduit members72 is mounted on the fixed manifold 74 for accommodating a short axialretraction stroke of the associated probe 95 upon registration with thecheck valve 94 of the associated end plate port 92, for displacing asecond, normally closed spring-loaded check valve 98 (within the fixedmanifold 74) to an open position. Accordingly, slide-fit coupling of theend plate ports 92 with the water conduit members 72 is accompanied byopening of the check valves 94, 98 to permit water flow, whereasslide-out separation of these components is accompanied by spring-loadedre-closure of the check valves 94, 98 to prevent water leakage. FIG. 8shows the multi-cartridge unit 36 installed within the drawer 80, withthe drawer 80 slidably advanced to the closed position for assemblingthe ported end plate 70 in flow-coupled relation with the water conduitmembers 72 of the fixed manifold 74.

With the multi-cartridge unit 36 installed into the manifold housing 62,with the cartridge manifold base 68 in flow-coupled relation with thefixed manifold 74, production of pure water proceeds in a normal manner.In this regard, as shown in somewhat schematic form in FIG. 9, the fixedmanifold 74 receives the water outflow from the catalyst pre-filter 16,via a flow conduit 100 from the first lower outflow port 58 of thecatalyst pre-filter 16 (see also FIG. 1). The fixed manifold 74 couplesthis pre-treated water flow to the cartridge manifold base 68 forinitial flow to and through a flow path 101 to the pre-membrane filtercartridge 64. In the preferred form, this pre-membrane filter cartridge64 includes a conventional carbon-based filtration media 102 such asgranulated carbon for capturing residual contaminants that may bepresent in the otherwise pre-treated water inflow. From the pre-membranefilter cartridge 64, the manifold base 68 routes the filtered water flowvia a flow path 103 to a tap water inflow port for supplying the waterflow to the RO cartridge 12 having a conventional semi-permeable ROmembrane 104 therein. During pure water production, the RO membraneseparates the water inflow into two water outflows, namely, relativelypurified water coupled via a purified water outflow port to a first ROoutlet flow path 106, and brine coupled via a brine outflow port to asecond RO outlet flow path 108.

The produced relatively purified water 14 is coupled via the first ROoutlet flow path 106 via a flow path 107 in the manifold base 68 to thepost-membrane filter cartridge 66. The post-membrane filter cartridge 66also includes a conventional carbon-based filtration media such asgranulated carbon 110 for capturing residual contaminants in the purewater stream. From this post-membrane filter 66, the purified water 14is coupled to a flow path 112 through the manifold base 68, and inparallel with the brine outflow at the second RO outlet flow path 108,to the fixed manifold 74. The fixed manifold 74, in turn, definesinternal flow paths 109 and 111 for coupling the filtered pure waterpath 112 and the brine path 108 respectively to a control valve 114.

The control valve 114 is mounted on the fixed manifold 74 within thehousing 62 for direct water-flow connection thereto. As shown in FIG. 10in accordance with one preferred form, the control valve 114 comprises amulti-chambered valve housing 116 defining a pure water inflow port 118and a pure water outflow port 120 at opposite ends thereof. The purewater inflow port 118 couples the purified and filtered water flow 14via the flow path 109 for normal pressure-caused retraction of a sealstop 122 carried at one end of an elongated valve spool 124, therebyretracting the seal stop 122 from a seat 126 on the valve housing 116and permitting pure water inflow into a first control valve chamber 128.Within this first control chamber 128, the pure water 14 flows past theseal stop 122 to a laterally open entry port 130 formed in the valvespool 124. The pure water 14 flows through this entry port 130 and intoan elongated spool bore 132 for flow to the opposite end of the valvespool 124 and passage therefrom through the pure water outlet port 120for dispensing and/or storage, as will be described in more detail.

The valve spool 124 is biased as by a spring 134 for normally advancingthe seal stop 122 into engagement with the associated seat 126, in theabsence of pure water production inflow via the pure water inflow port118. Accordingly, when pure water is being produced, sufficient pressureat the inflow port 118 causes the seal stop 122 to retract from the seatand permit pure water inflow, as described. At the same time, brineoutflow from the second RO outlet flow path 108 is delivered via theflow path 111 and a flow conduit 135 through a pump 136 (FIGS. 1 and 9)to a central inflow port 138 (FIG. 10) on the control valve 114 forentry into a central valve chamber 140. This brine inflow passes, duringpure water production, upwardly past a now-open recycle valve 142 on theretracted valve spool 124 into an overlying recycle chamber 144 for flowfurther through an outflow port 146 and the recycle conduit 40 to thedomestic hot water circuit 34 (FIG. 1).

Conversely, when pure water production is halted, such as when thereservoir 38 is filled to a predetermined volume (as will be described),the spool valve 124 advances the seal stop 122 into seated engagementwith the associated seat 126. At the same time, the recycle valve 142advances to engage and seat with a housing wall 148 separating thecentral chamber 140 from the overlying recycle outflow chamber 144 toprevent water flow from the central chamber 140 past said recycle valve142. Such closure of the recycle valve 142 is accompanied by, orimmediately followed by, opening movement of a recirculation valve 150also carried by the valve spool 124 and associated with a valve seat 152to permit water from the central chamber 140 to flow downwardly into anunderlying recirculation chamber 154 from which the water flowsoutwardly via an outflow port 156 for recirculation via a recirculationflow conduit 158 to the catalyst pre-filter 16 (see also FIG. 1).

Accordingly, during normal production of pure water 14, the brine flowhaving the contaminants concentrated therein is continuously recycledvia the pump 136 and control valve 114 through the recycle conduit 40 tothe domestic hot water circuit 34. FIG. 1 shows the recycle conduitcoupled into a hot water circuit conduit at a location near the hotwater dispense faucet 26. Persons skilled in the art will recognize thatalternative coupling locations may be used, such as by connecting thebrine flow directly to the hot water heater tank 32. In either case, thebrine flow is not wasted, but is instead combined with system hot water,with conventional and typically routine or regular hot water dispensingeffectively precluding any substantial or undesirable build-up ofcontaminants in the hot water circuit or any back-leaching of thosecontaminants into the cold water circuit 30.

The produced pure water 14 flows from the control valve 114 to apost-treatment final catalyst filter cartridge 160 shown (in onepreferred form) mounted on the fixed manifold 74 adjacent the controlvalve 114 (FIGS. 1,4-6, 8-9 and 11). This post-treatment cartridge 160,as shown best in FIG. 11, includes an inflow port 162 for pure waterinflow from the control valve outlet port 120 and further through a flowpath 161 in the fixed manifold 74, to a position between a lowercatalyst filter element 164 and an upper carbon-type filter element 166.Assuming that the pure water dispense faucet 20 is in a normally closedposition, the pure water flow passes downwardly through the lowercatalyst filter element 164 and further through a flow port 168 andfurther through a manifold flow path 169 (FIG. 9) and a flow conduit 170to the pure water storage reservoir 38. In the preferred form, thecatalyst filter element 164 defines a filtration chamber 172 filledpartially (preferably less than 1/2 the chamber volume) with aparticulate catalyst media or agent 173 including zinc, such as the samecopper-zinc catalyst material used in the prior-described catalystpre-filter 16. A portion of the catalyst zinc will be dissolved into thepure water flow passing therethrough, for purposes of maintaining waterand storage tank freshness.

The pure water storage reservoir 38 includes a lower water storagechamber 174 (FIGS. 1 and 11) separated from an upper closed air-filledpressure chamber 176 by a resilient diaphragm or bladder 178. As thepure water storage chamber 174 fills with the purified water 14, thebladder 178 deforms to reduce the volumetric size of the pressurechamber 176. As the pure water chamber 174 reaches a substantiallyfilled condition, the pressure applied to the pure water chamber 174 bythe air-filled pressure chamber 176 increases slowly to a maximumpredetermined pressure level. When this maximum pressure level isreached, as denoted by a ratio between the downwardly exposed area of adiaphragm valve 180 at the lower end of the valve spool 124 (FIG. 10) onthe control valve 114, versus the upwardly exposed area of the seal stop122 at the upper end of the valve spool 124, the spool shifts upwardlywithin the control valve housing 116 to close the pure water inflow port118 and thereby halt pure water production. In a typical RO system,these surface areas are designed to achieve closure of the seal stop122, to halt pure water production, when the pressure within the purewater chamber 174 reaches about 2/3 the tap water line pressure.

As previously described, cessation of pure water production isaccompanied by re-routing of the brine flow through the recycle conduit40 from the hot water circuit 34 (during pure water production), andinstead coupling the now-untreated water flow passing from the ROmembrane and through the second RO outlet path 108 through therecirculation conduit 158 to the catalyst pre-filter 16, as by couplingto the catalyst pre-filter via an inlet fitting 183 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 2 a)or the like. That is, when pure water production is halted, tap water iscontinuously recirculated through the catalyst pre-filter 16, thepre-membrane filter 64, and the RO membrane 12, in lieu of continuouslycycling this flow to the hot water system. As a result, and in view ofthe fact that pure water production is normally halted for a substantialperiod of time each twenty-four hour period, the filtration loadrepresented by untreated tap water is removed from these systemcomponents whenever pure water production is halted. Instead, thesesystem components are subjected only to prior-treated water therebyfurther extending the operating service life thereof.

When pure water 14 is dispensed upon opening of the pure water dispensefaucet 20, the pressure within the pure water chamber 174 of the storagereservoir 38 falls. When this occurs, the applied pressure to thediaphragm valve 180 at the lower end of the valve spool 124 (FIG. 10)drops, thereby opening the pure water inlet port 118 and permittingresumed production of purified water by the RO cartridge 12. Resumedpure water production is accompanied, of course, by re-directing thenow-brine outflow from the second RO outlet path 108 from the catalystpre-filter 16 back to the hot water circuit 34 via the recirculationconduit 40.

During dispensing, the pure water 14 back-flows from the storagereservoir 38 through the conduit 170 for passage back into contact withthe catalyst media 173 within the final catalyst filter cartridge 160.In this regard, as shown best in FIG. 11, the pure water 14 up-flowsthrough the particulate bed of the catalyst media 173, resulting instirring and fluidizing of the media 173 sufficient to turbulentlyabrade and refresh the media 173 in the same manner as previouslydescribed with respect to the catalyst pre-filter 16. From the catalystfilter element 164, the pure water 14 combines with newly produced purewater 14 for flow together through the overlying carbon-based filterelement 166 before discharge through an outflow port 182 and associatedflow conduit 184 to the faucet 20 for dispensing.

When the pure water dispense faucet 20 is turned off, pure waterdispensing is halted. But, pure water production will continue until thepure water chamber 174 of the storage reservoir 38 substantiallyre-fills. At that time, the pressure within the pure water chamber 174rises sufficiently to shift the spool valve 124 back to a closedposition halting pure water production, as previously described.

FIGS. 12-14 show the pure water dispense faucet 20 in more detail, inaccordance with one preferred form of the invention. As shown, the purewater dispense faucet comprises a compact faucet body 186 having athreaded lower end adapted for conventional mounting through a sink-typecountertop 21 (FIGS. 12 and 14) or the like. This faucet body 186includes an upper portion 188 normally positioned above the countertop.The faucet body 186 further defines an internal flow path 190 couplingthe pure water dispense conduit 184 through a manually operable faucetvalve 192, operated by a rotatably mounted faucet handle 193, to anupwardly projecting dispense spout 194 of typically inverted, generallyU-shaped configuration.

The upper portion 188 of the dispense faucet body 186 carries aplurality of indicator lights, such as the illustrative pair ofvertically opposed lights 196 of common color (such as green or blue),and a third indicator light 198 of a different color (such as yellow orred). These indicator lights 196, 198 are shown best in FIGS. 13- 14,and may comprise relatively low power LED-type lights provided toindicate water quality in response to conductivity readings takenregularly during system operation by a water quality monitor circuit200, as depicted schematically in FIG. 15. This monitor circuit 200 ispreferably incorporated into the faucet assembly, preferably on acircuit board 201 (FIG. 1 2) carrying the LED's 196, 198. Alternately,if desired, the monitor circuit 200 can be installed at any otherconvenient location such as on or within the manifold housing 62 locatedbeneath the countertop 21. The monitor circuit 200 is powered by asuitable power source (not shown) such as a battery or a standardalternating current power supply.

More particularly, and in accordance with one preferred form of theinvention, the monitor circuit 200 is coupled to and operates a pair ofelectrodes 202 and 204 for respectively taking conductivity readings ofthe untreated tap water inflow and the produced purified water 14. Inthis regard, these electrodes 202,204 may be located at a variety ofconvenient positions along the various water flow paths in thepurification system. Persons skilled in the art will understand thatsuch conductivity readings are reflective of the presence of dissolvedsolids in the monitored water supplies, whereby a comparison between theconductivity of the untreated tap water versus the produced purifiedwater represents an indication of the performance efficiency of the ROmembrane. When the detected conductivity ratio indicates inadequatepurification of the water, it is time to replace the RO cartridge 12.Such replacement, in the system disclosed herein, is anticipated on aninfrequent basis, i.e., at about 5-7 year intervals.

The monitor circuit 200 is programmed to take conductivity readingsfollowing a predetermined time delay (such as about 5 minutes) afteropening of the control valve 14 to initiate pure water production, andthereafter repeat such conductivity readings according to a programmedschedule (such as about every 5 minutes) following the predeterminedtime delay until the control valve 114 closes to halt pure waterproduction. These conductivity readings are stored in a circuit memory206 (FIG. 1 5). In the event that a predetermined consecutive number ofconductivity readings (such as 5 consecutive readings) indicates poorwater quality during any single pure water production cycle, i.e., thatthe RO cartridge 12 needs to be replaced, the monitor circuit 200illuminates the yellow or red indicator light 198 in a continuous orcontinuously blinking fashion until RO cartridge replacement. In analternative preferred form, the monitor circuit 200 is programmed forilluminating the lights 196 and 198 in an alternating blinking sequenceuntil RO cartridge replacement. In the absence of the predeterminedconsecutive number of unsatisfactory readings during any single purewater production cycle, the monitor circuit 200 is programmed toautomatically re-set upon closure of the control valve 114. The circuit200 is also programmed to re-set in the event that the pure waterproduction cycle is halted before the predetermined number ofconsecutive readings can be taken.

Otherwise, the monitor circuit 200 is programmed to illuminate the greenor blue indicator lights 196 each time the pure water dispense faucet 20is turned on to dispense water, as by response to a flow switch or thelike (shown in FIG. 15 in the form of a flow meter 610, as will bedescribed in more detail). As shown best in FIG. 13, an outer shroud 208mounted about the upper portion 188 of the faucet body 186 carries apartially transparent or translucent brand name logo element 210 withraised logo elements shaped to fit snugly within a logo cutout 211formed in the outer shroud 208. If desired, a clear or transparent sealsuch silicon putty (not shown) may be used to prevent accumulation ofdirt and the like within small crevices between the cutout 211 and theraised logo on component 210. The color of the illuminated indicatorlights 196 or 198 backlight and are thus visible externally via thistransparent or translucent logo element 210. Alternately, if desired,the transparent or translucent logo element 210 may be positioned infront of the green or blue indicator lights 196, with a separate port212 (FIG. 13) of the like positioned in front of the yellow or greenindicator light 198.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the upper portion188 of the dispense faucet body 186 may additionally carry a photocell214 (FIG. 14) for detecting the level of ambient light. The photocell214 is integrated into the monitor circuit 200 (FIG. 1 5) forilluminating one or both of the indicator lights 196, or a differentindicator light (not shown), when the ambient light level falls.Accordingly, the photocell 214 effectively causes indicator lightenergization to provide a night-light function. In the preferred form,the circuit 200 (FIG. 15) responds to the photocell 214 to illuminateonly one of the two indicator lights 196, or to illuminate both lights196 at a reduced power level, thereby providing a relatively dim yeteffective night-light function.

When the monitor circuit 200 illuminates the indicator light 198 toindicate unsatisfactory RO system performance, it is necessary toreplace the RO cartridge 12. This is accomplished by removal andreplacement of the multi-cartridge unit 36. In this regard, illuminationof the indicator light 198 requires a replacement multi-cartridge unit36 to be ordered and received. As previously shown and described herein,the slide-out drawer 80 is opened to accommodate quick and easy lift-outremoval of the old multi-cartridge unit 36, followed by similarly quickand easy drop-in installation of the replacement unit 36 and re-closureof the drawer 80 (FIGS. 4-6). Such removal and replacement of themulti-cartridge unit 36 does not require service personnel to visit thepurification system site.

In addition, the dispense faucet 20 may carry or otherwise be associatedwith a flow meter 610 (shown schematically in FIG. 15) for monitoringthe total amount of purified water dispensed by the faucet 20 over aperiod of time. This flow meter 610 is adapted to generate a signal eachtime the faucet 20 is opened to dispense purified water, wherein thissignal is proportional to the water flow rate. Accordingly, the flowmeter 610 also functions as a flow switch, in the preferred form, forsignaling the monitor circuit 200 to energize the lights 196 each timethe faucet 20 is opened to dispense water. This flow rate signal iscoupled to the monitor circuit 200 (FIG. 1 5) which responds thereto bymaintaining in memory a record indicative of the total or cumulativevolume or gallonage of water dispensed. Over a period of time, when thetotal water volume dispensed equals or exceeds the capacity of thecarbon-based system filter elements to remove contaminants from theprocessed water, the monitor circuit 200 is programmed to provide anindication that the multi-cartridge unit 36 needs to be changed. Suchindication may be similar to the indication provided when theconductivity readings (as described above) indicate unsatisfactory ROmembrane performance, i.e., the monitor circuit 200 may energize theindicator light 198 to indicate a need to replace the multi-cartridgeunit 36.

While the flow meter 610 may take various forms, one preferred flowmeter construction corresponds generally with the flow meters marketedby Blue-White Industries, Ltd., of Huntington Beach, Calif. under themodel designations F-440 series. Such flow meters generally comprise acore float member formed from a magnetic-type stainless steel or thelike captured within a tapered housing disposed in-line with thedispense faucet flow path 190 (FIG. 1 2) for displacement along saidtapered housing by an increment proportional to the water flow ratetherethrough. By surrounding such flow meter 610 with a conductive coil612 (FIG. 1 5), an electric signal is generated proportional to thewater flow rate, wherein this proportional electric signal is coupled tothe monitor circuit 200. In this arrangement, it is desirable toposition the monitor circuit 200 relatively close to the flow meter 610,as by incorporating the monitor circuit 200 within the faucet assemblyon the circuit board 201 (FIG. 12), to facilitate accurate flow metercalibration and operation. Persons skilled in the art will appreciatethat alternative flow meter constructions may be used.

To insure proper re-setting of the monitor circuit 200 followingreplacement of the multi-cartridge unit 36, each unit 36 is providedwith a unique marking or other suitable identification means such as aunique bar code label 216 or the like (FIGS. 6 and 15). This label 216is positioned to be scanned optically by an optical reader 218 (FIG. 15), such as a bar code reader, mounted on or near the internal base 76of the manifold housing 62. This reader 218 is connected to a re-setportion of the monitor circuit 200 which includes in its memory theunique code associated with the prior multi-cartridge unit 36 storedpreviously therein. In the event that the prior multi-cartridge unit 36is simply removed from and then re-installed into the slide drawer 80,the reader 218 will read and recognize the same code and thereby notfunction to re-set the monitor circuit 200. Instead, the reader 218requires a new and different code to be scanned, in order to re-set themonitor circuit 200. Upon such re-set, the monitor circuit 200 isprogrammed to retain the new cartridge code 216 in its memory, pendingsubsequent removal of the newly installed cartridge for replacement bystill another multi-cartridge unit having still another different code216.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that alternativeidentification means and associated reader means may be employed,including but not limited to radio frequency identification devices(RFID) and the like. Persons skilled in the art will also recognize thatthe unique code 216 associated with a newly installed or replacementmulti-cartridge unit 36 may also include means for re-programming themonitor circuit, e.g., as by modifying the cumulative dispensedgallonage required to signal that it is time to replace the unit 36. Inthis manner, the monitor circuit 200 can be reprogrammed as needed toaccommodate local water supply conditions, new technology developments,and the like - all without requiring direct user intervention and/or anyon-site visits by service technicians.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the pure waterdispense faucet 20 is adapted for receiving and distributing a flow offiltered or purified air into the room in which the faucet 20 islocated. In this regard, the shroud 208 on the upper portion 188 of thefaucet body 186 includes an array of vent ports 220 (FIGS. 12-13)coupled to an air flow conduit 222 (FIG. 1 2) passing upwardly throughthe faucet body 186. This air flow conduit 222 has an upstream endcoupled to a fan 224 (FIGS. 1 and 8) mounted on or near the internalbase 76 of the manifold housing 62. The fan 224 draws ambient air from asmall plenum box 226 which is linked in turn to a downstream end of afilter chamber 228 (FIG. 8) having an air filter element 230 mountedtherein. This filter chamber 228 occupies a substantial portion of ahollow internal volume of the fixed manifold base 76, and communicateswith at least one air inflow port 232. A hinged door 234 or the like atthe front of the internal base 76, below the slide-out drawer 80,permits access to the air filter chamber 228 for removal and replacementof the filter element 230 on a periodic or as-needed basis.

FIG. 16 shows a modified control valve 314 constructed in accordancewith an alternative preferred form of the invention, for use in lieu ofthe control valve 114 shown in FIG. 10, and wherein componentscorresponding in structure or function with those shown and described inconnection with the control valve 114 are identified by common referencenumerals increased by 200. As shown, the modified control valve 314includes an elongated valve body or housing 316 defining a pure waterinlet port 318 and a pure water outlet port 320 at opposed ends thereof.An elongated valve spool 324 extends generally between these inlet andoutlet ports 318, 320, with a seal stop 322 movable relative to anassociated seat 326 for opening to permit pure water production, and forclosing to halt pure water production. A spring 334 biases the valvespool 324 toward a normal position halting pure water production.

The modified control valve 314 defines a central control chamber 236coupled via a fitting 237 to the tap water supply, as by means of a flowconduit 238 or the like. A control valve 240 on the valve spool 324responds to the water pressure within the control chamber 236 forapplying a downward force to the valve spool 324. This downward forcevia the control valve 240 cooperates with backpressure applied to alower diaphragm valve 380 to regulate opening and closing movement ofthe valve spool 324. Again, in a preferred arrangement, the seal stop322 is designed to close when the pressure within a pure water storagereservoir 38 is about ⅔ the tap water line pressure.

The valve spool 324 is adapted to operate a switch 242, such as aconventional magnetically actuated reed-type switch, for controllingoperation of the pump 136 used to recycle the brine flow to the hotwater circuit 34. In this regard, the valve spool 324 may carry amagnetic element 241 in operative association with a reed-type switch242. When pure water production is started, upon opening of the controlvalve 314, the switch 242 activates the pump 136 for recycling the brineto the hot water system 34, as previously described. When the controlvalve 314 closes, the pump 136 is de-activated and water is notrecirculated through the RO membrane. Instead, the modified controlvalve 314 halts water circulation to and through the RO cartridge.

FIG. 17 shows a further modified control valve 514 constructed inaccordance with a further modified preferred form of the invention. Asshown, the control valve 514 has a simplified construction wherein flowports and the like through moving diaphragm components are not required.

More particularly, the modified control valve 514 includes amulti-segmented valve body 550 having a first pressure port 552 coupledto receive produced purified water from the flow line 109 to a lowerchamber 554 containing a valve head 556 normally biased by a spring 558into sealed engagement with a valve seat 560. The valve seat 560 definesa short flow passage leading from the lower chamber 554 to a lowercontrol chamber 562 which in turn communicates with a second pressureport 564 coupled for pure water flow to the storage reservoir 38 (aspreviously shown and described herein). One wall of the lower controlchamber 562 is defined by a resilient diaphragm 566 carried at a lowerend of a rigid member 568. A second and somewhat smaller-area resilientdiaphragm 570 is carried at an upper end of this rigid member 568 anddefines one wall of an upper control chamber 572 in flow communicationwith a third pressure port 574 coupled with the tap water inflow line238.

The rigid valve member 568 carrying the lower and upper diaphragms 566,570 of differential area size is designed to operate the switch 242 usedto turn the pump 136 off and on in response to the filled or unfilledstate of the pure water storage reservoir 38, as previously shown anddescribed with respect to FIG. 16. In one form, the member 568 maycomprise a magnetic element used to operate a reed-type switch 242 asdescribed in FIG. 16. In another preferred form, the member 568 mayincorporate a laterally open port 576 associated with an emitter 578 anda detector 580 mounted on the housing 550 at opposite ends of the port576. This emitter-detector combination 578, 580 is coupled to themonitor circuit 200 (FIG. 1 5) for response to shifting displacement ofthe member 568 to turn the pump 136 on and off.

More particularly, when the pure water storage reservoir reaches asubstantially filled condition, the hydraulic pressure rises in thestorage reservoir 38 to increase the pressure along the line 170 andwithin the lower control chamber 562 applied to the lower diaphragm 566.This hydraulic pressure combines with the force applied by the spring558 to overcome the downward force attributable to the tap waterpressure within the upper control chamber 572, thereby shifting thevalve head 556 to a closed position against the valve seat 560, andfurther thereby halting further pure water flow through the controlvalve 514 to the reservoir 38. At the same time, an upwardly protrudingpin 557 on the valve head 556 engages a support plate 582 mountedcentrally on the lower diaphragm 566 to shift the rigid valve member 568upwardly to move the transverse port 576 into alignment with theemitter-detector combination 578, 580. When such alignment occurs, themonitor circuit 200 is signaled to turn the pump 136 off. Thereafter,upon dispensing of sufficient pure water from the reservoir 38, thehydraulic pressure applied to the lower control chamber 562 issufficiently reduced (relative to the tap water pressure within theupper control chamber 572) to cause the rigid valve member 568 to shiftdownwardly in a manner to re-open the valve head 556 to permit resumedpure water production. Such downward shifting of the rigid valve member568 is accompanied by misalignment of the emitter-detector combination578, 580 with the transverse port 576, thereby signaling the monitorcircuit 200 to re-activate the pump 136.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, and as shown byway of example in FIG. 17, the system may further include a remote meansfor disabling pure water production in the event that the user (i.e., ahomeowner or business customer) fails to maintain a current or paid-upaccount with the system vendor. In this regard, FIG. 17 shows an antenna590 carried by a telephonic reception device 592, such as a conventionalbeeper device, linked to a disable valve 594 such as a latching solenoidvalve incorporated into the system plumbing lines, such as along theflow path 170 for pure water flow to the reservoir 38. In the event thatthe customer fails to maintain current account payments, the vendor canremotely signal the reception device 592 to operate the disable valve594, directly or indirectly, by appropriate signaling to the monitorcircuit 200, to close the pure water flow path 170. Such closure of thedisable valve 594 effectively precludes further use of the system by thecustomer, and provides a clear indication that the customer's accountneeds to be brought up to date. Upon receipt of an appropriate payment,the vendor can remotely reactivate the system by signaling the receptiondevice 592 to re-open the disable valve 594. In this regard, each systemreception device 592 is associated with a unique telephonic address orcode.

When the disable valve 594 is closed, the monitor circuit 200 may beprogrammed to respond by illuminating the light 198 for furtherproviding the customer with a clear indication that the system 10 is notfunctioning properly. Upon remote re-signaling to re-start the system,the light 196 on the faucet valve 192 can be illuminated, as by blinkingfor a predetermined number of cycles, to indicate to the customer thatsystem operation has been reactivated. In addition, during normaloperation, the memory circuit 200 can be programmed to deliver “open”signals to the disable valve 594 at repeated intervals to safeguardagainst undesired or unexpected system shut-down due to valve closure.The disable valve 594 comprises, in the preferred form, a normallyclosed valve whereby the valve 594 automatically closes upon aninterruption of the household power supply, but is automaticallyre-opened by the regular “open” signals upon resumption of the householdpower supply.

While the remote disabling means is shown and described for use with themodified control valve 514 shown in FIG. 17, persons skilled in the artwill appreciate that the remote disabling means may be employed in anyor all embodiments of the invention disclosed herein.

FIGS. 1 8-1 9 illustrate a modified reverse osmosis cartridge 412,wherein the modified RO cartridge 412 can be used in lieu of the ROcartridge 12 depicted in FIGS. 1,4-6, and 8-9. This modified ROcartridge 412 provides a relatively simple yet effective means forinjecting or adding one or more selected minerals in dissolved form,such as calcium and/or magnesium and others, to the produced purifiedwater.

As shown in FIG. 18, the flow path 103 provides tap or cold water inflowto the modified RO cartridge 412, in the same manner as previously shownand described herein. An RO membrane assembly 414 and related cartridgehousing components are modified to accommodate mineral addition to theproduced purified water. More particularly, the RO membrane assembly 414(shown best in FIG. 19 in partially exploded form) comprises aconventional multiply wrap of a semi-permeable membrane material 416 incombination with intervening plies of a porous wick material 418. Theseplies 416,418 are wrapped about a central support tube 420 (FIG. 1 8),and the resultant subassembly is fitted in turn within a hollowcartridge housing 422. As is known in the art, the opposite ends (upperand lower, in FIGS. 18 and 19) of the semi-permeable membrane material416 include impermeable welds 424. The modified RO membrane assembly 414additionally includes an intermediate weld 426 disposed in spacedrelation with the upper weld 424. Accordingly, the intermediate weld 426cooperates with the lower and upper welds 424 to subdivide thesemi-permeable membrane material 416 into a first or lower filtrationregion 428 and a second or upper filtration region 430.

The tap or cold water inflow is flow-coupled via the flow path 103 to alower end of the wrapped plies 416, 418 (FIG. 18). This water inflowpasses along the wick material 418 between the lower end weld 424 tocommunicate with the first or lower filtration region 428. As is knownin the art, the semi-permeable membrane material constituting this firstfiltration region 428 converts the water inflow into relatively purifiedwater communicated radially with the pure water outlet path 106, and abrine flow communicated axially with the brine outlet path 108. In themodified RO cartridge 412, a portion of the water inflow proceedsfurther upwardly along the wick material 418 past the intermediate weld426 to the second or upper filtration region 430 which produces anadditional or secondary pure water flow. In the preferred configuration,the membrane surface area defined by the second filtration region 430 isconsiderably less than the membrane surface area defined by the first orprimary filtration region 428.

As viewed in FIG. 18, the purified water produced by the primaryfiltration region 428 flows through a check valve 432, such as aduckbill-type check valve, to the pure water outflow line 106. Bycontrast, the purified water produced by the upper or secondaryfiltration region 430 passes through a small check valve 434 (such as aduckbill-type valve) into the hollow interior of the central supporttube 420 which is filled at least partially with one or more watersoluble mineral agents 436, such as calcium and/or magnesium inparticulate form. This smaller flow of produced purified water thusdissolves and entrains the mineral agents 436 for outflow via anothercheck valve 438 (such as a duckbill-type valve) to the pure water outletflow path 106.

Accordingly, during pure water production, the modified RO cartridge 412provides a means for injecting one or more desirable mineral agents intothe purified water produced by the system. When pure water production ishalted, such as when the associated pure water storage reservoir reachesa substantially filled condition (as previously shown and describedherein), the check valves 434 and 438 at opposite ends of themineral-containing chamber are closed to correspondingly halt themineral injection process.

FIG. 20 depicts still another alternative preferred form for a controlvalve 714, wherein this modified control valve 714 includes redundantclosure mechanisms to positively insure cessation of water flow throughthe Ro cartridge 12 when the pure water reservoir 38 reaches asubstantially filled condition.

More particularly, the modified control valve 714 includes amulti-segmented valve body 750 having a first pressure port 752 coupledto receive produced purified water from the flow line 109 to a lowerinlet chamber 754. A valve head 756 is positioned within this lowerinlet chamber 754 and is normally biased by a spring 758 in an upwarddirection toward sealed engagement with an overlying valve seat 760. Thevalve head 756 is carried centrally by a resilient diaphragm 757 havinga peripheral array of flow ports 759 formed therein.

The valve seat 760 defines a short flow passage leading from the lowerinlet chamber 754 upwardly into a lower control chamber 762 which inturn communicates via a tapered valve seat port or bore 763 with anoverlying secondary chamber 764 coupled via a second pressure port 765with the flow line 170 for pure water flow to the storage reservoir 38(as previously shown and described herein). One wall of this secondarychamber 764 is defined by a resilient diaphragm 766 carried at a lowerend of a rigid valve poppet member 768. A second and somewhatsmaller-area resilient diaphragm 770 is carried at an upper end of thisrigid valve poppet member 768 and defines one wall of an upper controlchamber 772 in flow communication with a third pressure port 774 coupledwith the tap water inflow line 238.

The rigid valve poppet member 768 carrying the lower and upperdiaphragms 766, 770 of differential area size is designed to operate aswitch (not shown) used to turn the pump 136 on and off in response tothe filled state of the pure water storage reservoir 38, as previouslyshown and described with respect to FIGS. 16 and 17. In addition, thevalve poppet member 768 comprises or carries a magnet element 769 whichattracts and retains a metal (stainless steel, or the like) keeper plate782 on the underside of the lower, larger diaphragm 766. A valve stem784 projects downwardly from the keeper plate 782 through the secondarychamber 764 and further through the tapered valve seat port 763 and thelower control chamber 762 for bearing engagement with an upper side ofthe valve head 756.

In normal operation, during pure water production, the pressuredifferential across the rigid valve poppet member 768 is sufficient toshift the poppet member 768 in a downward direction so that the valvestem 784 engages and opens the lower valve head 756 against the closureforce applied by the biasing spring 758. In this mode, the open valvehead 756 permits produced purified water from the RO cartridge 12 toflow through the ports 759 in the lower diaphragm, and further throughthe valve seat 760 and the two chambers 762, 764 to the pure waterreservoir 38.

When the pure water reservoir 38 reaches a substantially filledcondition, the pressure differential across the valve poppet member 768causes upward shifting thereof with the valve stem 784. As the valvestem 784 displaces upwardly, a seal ring 790 thereon is moved into andsealingly engages the tapered valve seat or bore 763 separating the twochambers 762, 764. In a preferred form, this seal ring 790 has a quad orsubstantially I-beam cross sectional configuration as shown, to provideredundant axially spaced upper primary and lower secondary sealinterfaces with the bore 763. Upon upward closure movement of the poppermember 768 and associated valve stem 784, the upper primary sealinitially displaces into the tapered bore 763 for sealing engagementtherewith. Upon sealing, further upward displacement of the valve stem784 is halted. If sealing is incomplete, the valve stem 784 displacesfurther upwardly within the tapered bore 763 (as shown in FIG. 20) sothat the lower secondary seal on the seal ring 790 is also moved intosealing engagement therewith for positive valve closure. Alternately, ifdesired, other redundant seal ring configurations, such as duplicate0-rings or the like defining multiple or redundant seal interfaces maybe used. In any event, such upward stem displacement is also accompaniedby separation of the valve stem lower end from the valve head 756,whereby the biasing spring 758 now acts to positively displace the valvehead 756 to a position closed on the associated seat 760. Thus, purewater flow through the RO membrane is positively halted with redundantseals provided by the valve head 756 and the seal ring 790 (which itselfprovides redundant diametric seals within the bore 763 carried by thecommon valve stem 784). When such sealing occurs, the pressuredifferential across the RO membrane is substantially eliminated, i.e.,the pressure within the lower inlet chamber 754 slowly risessubstantially to the tap water inflow pressure at the upper controlchamber 772, thereby assisting in positive control valve closure.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the valve head 756 maybe omitted, if desired.

When pure water is dispensed from the reservoir 38, the pressure levelwithin the chamber 764 drops. After a sufficient volume of pure water isdispensed, such as several glass-type servings, the pressure fallssufficiently to shift the valve poppet member 768 downwardly forre-opening the valve head 756 and the seal ring 790 for resumed purewater production.

FIGS. 21-24 depict a modified manifold housing, which correspondsgenerally in structure and functional operation with the manifoldhousing 62 shown and described previously herein with respect to FIGS.3-6. For convenience and consistency of description, components shown inFIGS. 21-24 are identified by reference numerals common to those used inFIGS. 3-6, increased in value by 800. Accordingly, the modified manifoldhousing 862 generally comprises a manifold base 868 and associated cover881 for slidably receiving and supporting a multi-cartridge unit 36 (notshown in FIGS. 21-24) in flow-coupled relation with related systemcomponents (as previously shown and described, e.g., with respect toFIGS. 1 and 4-9). The multi-cartridge unit is removably carried on aslide-out drawer 880 having a front panel 884 carried thereby fornormally closing the manifold housing 862 when the multi-cartridge unitis operationally installed.

The modified manifold housing 862 of FIGS. 21-24 includes an improvedlatch mechanism 802 for releasibly retaining the front panel 884 in anormally fully closed position, with the multi-cartridge unit 36 thereinproperly and operationally coupled with related system components, andwithout risk of water leakage therebetween. This improved latchmechanism 802 is designed for secure, substantially fail-safe retentionin the closed position, but can be opened quickly and easily whendesired.

More particularly, the latch mechanism 802 includes a pair of magnets804 and 806 carried respectively by the manifold base 868 and the frontpanel 884 for normal positioning in close proximity with each other,when the front panel 884 is in a fully closed position as viewed in FIG.22. Importantly, in this fully closed position, the two magnets 804, 806are oriented with their respective opposed magnetic poles (North andSouth) aligned so that the two magnets 804, 806 strongly attract eachother to retain the front panel 884 in the fully closed position. FIG.22 shows the base-mounted magnet 804 oriented with its South poleoverlying the related North pole, and the panel-mounted magnet 806oriented with its poles in a reverse configuration in respectivealignment with the poles of the base-mounted magnet 804. The size andstrength of these magnets 804, 806 are chosen to provide a sufficientlystrong magnetic attraction force so that, as the front panel 884 isdisplaced toward the closed position, the magnets attract each otherwith a sufficient force to insure full panel/drawer closer with themulti-cartridge unit 36 fully and properly seated and engaged with theassociated ports on the fixed manifold 74 (as viewed previously withrespect to FIG. 7). In other words, the magnetic attraction issufficiently strong to overcome any hydraulic line pressure at theinter-fitted ports, wherein such line pressure might otherwise precludefull engagement and result in water leakage at these connection sites.

The front panel 884 and associated slide-out drawer 880 can be quicklyshifted quickly and easily to the open position for access to andreplacement of the multi-cartridge unit, when and if desired. Thepanel-mounted magnet 806 is carried at a lower end of a verticallyreciprocal slide bar 808 mounted at an inboard side of the front panel884. This slide bar is slidably guided along a track 810, and has anupper end thereof pivotally coupled via one or more crank links 812(FIG. 24) to a movable drawer pull 886. As shown, this drawer pull 886is normally positioned in a “down” orientation disposed substantiallywithin a recessed pocket 814 formed on an outboard face of the frontpanel 884, to correspondingly position the panel-mounted magnet 806 inan attraction orientation relative to the base-mounted magnet 804. Thedrawer pull 886 can be lifted through a short stroke (FIGS. 21 and23-24) to lift the slide bar 808 and the panel-mounted magnet 806sufficiently to shift the inter-magnet pole alignment to a repulsionorientation. That is, as viewed best in FIG. 23, the panel-mountedmagnet 806 is lifted sufficiently to align its lower South pole with theupper South pole on the base-mounted magnet 804, resulting in a strongrepulsion force which quickly and easily shifts the front panel 884 (andthe slide-out drawer 880 coupled thereto) to a partially open position(FIGS. 21 and 23-24) with the multi-cartridge unit disengaged from theinternally disposed fixed manifold 74 (FIG. 7). The thus-disengagedcomponents permit further and easy manual slide-out displacement of thefront panel 884 and drawer 880 to a fully open position for access tothe multi-cartridge unit.

Thereafter, return slide-in displacement of the front panel 884 andassociated drawer 880 is accompanied by return alignment of the magnets804, 806 in the attraction orientation. That is, with the drawer pull886 manually released, the panel-mounted magnet 806 falls by gravityback to the attraction orientation. As the panel-mounted magnet 806approaches the base-mounted magnet 804 (upon drawer closure), theattraction force strongly pulls and retains the front panel 884 andassociated drawer 880 to the fully and securely closed position.Conveniently, at this fully closed position is reached, downwardlyprotruding tabs 816 (FIG. 24) at a lower end of the slide bar 808 guideinto and seat within upwardly open cut-outs or pockets 818 formed in thebase 868 for further positive mechanical retention of the drawer 880 inthe fully closed position. These tabs 816 are sized for pull-outdisengagement from the associated pockets 818, when the drawer pull 886is lifted (as previously described) for shifting the panel-mountedmagnet 806 to the repulsion position.

Alternative combined magnetic and mechanical closure arrangements willbe apparent to those persons skilled in the art.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a power indicator light 902may be carried on the manifold housing 862 as viewed in FIG. 21, forindicating that the reverse osmosis system is in a power-on state. Inaddition, a water quality light 904 may also be provided for indicatingthe state of water purity, wherein this light 904 is adapted forillumination at one color (such as blue or green) when the water qualityis acceptable, and at a second color (such as yellow or red) when thewater quality is not acceptable. In this regard, the water quality light904 is, in a preferred form, provided in addition to the water qualitylights 196, 198 as previously shown and described herein.

In addition, the manifold housing 862 may further carry a bank ofpurification life lights 906, such as the bank of four lights shown inFIG. 21. These purification life lights 906 provide an indication of theremaining estimated life of the multi-cartridge unit, based on totaldispensed pure water outflow as measured by the flow meter 610 (FIG. 15). In a preferred form, the flow meter 610 is coupled via the monitorcircuit 200 and associated memory 206 to the lights 906 to illuminateone or more of said lights 906 based on the estimated remaining life ofthe multi-cartridge unit.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, the monitorcircuit 200 (FIG. 1 5) may be programmed to energize the lights 196, 198in a controlled manner, in response to predetermined user-initiatedactivity, for purposes of verifying that the system 10 continues toproduce purified water of acceptable quality. In this regard, the system10 is designed for relatively prolonged operation without requiringreplacement of the RO cartridge 12 or other system components, wherebysome users may begin to question whether the continued illumination ofthe light or lights 196 indicating acceptable water quality is in factcorrect. To verify proper operation, the monitor circuit 200 may bepreprogrammed for such verification, in response to a predetermineduser-initiated action, such as turning the dispense faucet 20 on and offin a rapid sequence at least 3 times within a short time interval suchas within about 10 seconds. When this activity is detected by themonitor circuit 200, by virtue of the flow signals provided by the flowmeter 610 or the like, the monitor circuit 200 will controllablyilluminate the lights 196 and 198, such as in an alternating blinkingmode, for a predetermined number of times (such as 5), and thenilluminate the light 196 or the light 198 associated with the mostrecent conductivity reading which is retained in the memory 206 of themonitor circuit 200. Such user-initiated verification of proper systemoperation may occur in response to a user-initiated telephone inquiry,and/or outlined in a system owner's manual.

A variety of further modifications and improvements in and to theimproved reverse osmosis water purification system 10 of the presentinvention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. By way oflimited example, it will be appreciated that the components of thesystem 10 may be arranged in different configurations suitable forappropriate component access and service over an extended service life.In this regard, the post-treatment cartridge 160 may be disposed outsidethe multi-cartridge housing 62, such as alongside or on top of thecatalyst pre-filter 16. In addition, if desired, the pump 136 may bemounted inside the multi-cartridge housing 62. Accordingly, nolimitation on the invention is intended by way of the foregoingdescription and accompanying drawings, except as set forth in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A water purification system, comprising: a waterinflow port receiving a water inflow from a water supply system; a firstfilter coupled between the water inflow port and the water supplysystem, the first filter filtering the water inflow to providepre-filtered water; a cartridge filter unit configuration receiving thepre-filtered water and filtering the pre-filtered water by at least oneof a particulate filter and a reverse osmosis filter, the cartridgefilter unit configuration providing purified water and coupled to apurified water outflow port; a water monitoring system including a waterquality monitor circuit and at least one water quality sensor, the waterquality monitor circuit monitoring water quality of at least one of thewater inflow from the water supply and the purified water, the waterquality monitor circuit further including at least one indicatorindicating water quality of the at least one of the water inflow fromthe water supply and the purified water, the water monitoring systemfurther including a water flow sensor providing a flow rate signalindicating flow of the purified water; and a dispenser faucet receivingthe purified water to dispense the purified water from the waterpurification system.
 2. The water purification system of claim 1,wherein the pre-filter comprises a pre-filter particulate media,contained within a portion of a volume of a pre-filter chamber when theparticulate media is in a non-moving settled media state, for catalyzingat least one impurity from the water inflow.
 3. The water purificationsystem of claim 2, wherein the inflow port coupled to the water supplysystem is configured to create an upward flow of water through theparticulate media.
 4. The water purification system of claim 1, furthercomprising a post-filter coupled to the purified water outflow port. 5.The water purification system of claim 4, in which the post-filtercomprises a post-filter particulate media to remove at least oneimpurity from the water flowing from the purified water outflow port. 6.The water purification system of claim 5, in which the post-filterparticulate media comprises zinc.
 7. The water purification system ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one water quality sensor monitoring waterquality is a conductivity sensor sensing conductivity of the at leastone of the water inflow from the water supply and the purified water. 8.The water purification system of claim 1, wherein the at least oneindicator configured to indicate water quality of the at least one ofthe water inflow from the water supply and the purified water is a lowpower Light Emitting Diode (LED) type light.
 9. The water purificationsystem of claim 1, further comprising a storage reservoir coupled to thepurified water outflow port, the storage reservoir being configured forstoring a volume of the purified water.
 10. The water purificationsystem of claim 1, further comprising: a housing configured to store thecartridge filter unit configurations; a latch assembly, coupled to saidhousing, in which a first position of the latch assembly closes thehousing and a second position opens the housing, such that the cartridgefilter unit configuration is within the housing in the first positionand removable from the housing in the second position.
 11. The waterpurification system of claim 1 wherein the indicator of the monitorcircuit is configured to provide an indication to replace a cartridge ofthe cartridge filter unit configuration as a function of one of the atleast one water quality sensor and the flow rate signal indicating flowof the purified water.
 12. The water purification system of claim 11,wherein the indication to replace the cartridge is reset when thecartridge is replaced.
 13. A method for purifying water, comprising:receiving an inflow of water from a water supply at a pre-filter;catalyzing at least one impurity in the inflow of water with aparticulate media in the pre-filter to provide an output flow ofpre-filtered water; receiving the pre-filtered water and filtering thepre-filtered water by at least one of a particulate filter and a reverseosmosis filter in a cartridge filter unit configuration providingpurified water to a purified water outflow port; monitoring waterquality of at least one of the water inflow from the water supply andthe purified water using at least one sensor, and indicating waterquality of the at least one of the water inflow from the water supplyand the purified water using at least one indicator; and receiving thepurified water at a dispenser faucet for dispensing the purified waterfrom the water purification system.
 14. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising monitoring flow of the purified water and storing informationrelating to the flow of the purified water.
 15. The method of claim 13,further comprising storing a volume of the purified water in areservoir.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising monitoring acartridge of the cartridge filter unit configuration to determinewhether to replace the cartridge.
 17. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising monitoring a cartridge of the cartridge filter unitconfiguration to determine whether to replace the cartridge, and whereinthe step of monitoring the cartridge to determine whether to replace thecartridge further comprises at least one of monitoring water quality ofat least one of the water inflow from the water supply and the purifiedwater using the at least one sensor and monitoring flow rate of thepurified water.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising resettinga cartridge indicator when the cartridge is replaced.
 19. A waterpurification system, comprising: a water inflow port receiving a waterinflow from a water supply system; a first filter coupled between thewater inflow port and the water supply system, the first filterfiltering the water inflow to provide pre-filtered water; a cartridgefilter unit configuration receiving the pre-filtered water and filteringthe pre-filtered water by at least one of a particulate filter and areverse osmosis filter, the cartridge filter unit configurationproviding purified water and coupled to a purified water outflow port; awater monitoring system including a monitor circuit and at least onesensor, the monitor circuit monitoring flow rate of the purified waterand water quality of at least one of the water inflow from the watersupply and the purified water, the monitor circuit further including atleast one indicator configured to indicate water quality of the purifiedwater; and a dispenser faucet receiving the purified water and beingconfigured to dispense the purified water from the water purificationsystem.
 20. The water purification system of claim 19 wherein theindicator of the monitor circuit is configured to provide an indicationto replace a cartridge of the cartridge filter unit configuration as afunction of one of the at least one water quality sensor and the flowrate of the purified water.